Bridle bit



L. B. BERGEN BRIDLE BIT Filed June 50, 1954 Aug. 27, 1935.

m m m 05M 5% BY W San m;

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 jApplicationJnne 30, 19:4, semis; 133,210

" 5 Mexican bits, curved bits, etc. Bits of thisbharacter are particularly intended for hard-bitted and more or less intractable horses, and while 7 they serve the purpose of keeping the horse under control they areusually too severe as there a tendencyto cut; bruise/and pinch the corners of'themouthp i 3 The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of bits of the character described; to provide a bit that may be used to rein all types of horses, and in particular, to provide a bit that is more humane to the extent that it will prevent cutting, bruising and pinching of the horse's mouth.

The bridle bit is shownby way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of the bit partially in section. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bit partially in section, the section being taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective applied to a horse.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section taken on line IV -IVof Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, AA indicate the cheek-pieces of the bit, B the mouthpiece, and C the straps forming the head stall whereby the bit is held in place. The cheekpieces are in this instance connected by two cross bars generally indicated at B and D, the bar B forming the mouth-piece and the bar D the hinge bar. The manner in which these bars are connected to the cheek-pieces is an important feature and is accomplishedas follows. 7

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the upperportion of each cheek-pieceis formed in the shape of a ring, such as indicated at 2. These rings are in actual practice an inch and a half or more in diameter, and each ring is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bearing lugs 3 and 4. These lugs are bent or extended outwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and pins 5 extending therethro-ugh form pivotal connections between the cheek-pieces and the outer ends of the mouth-piece B as will be clear from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 4. The pivotal connections thus formed will, accordingly, be offset with relation to the inner faces of the cheekview showing the bit (or. spa) V g pieces and cutting or pinching of the cornersfof the-mouth will be av'oided.

The upper portion of the rings 2, forming the upper ends of thefcheek-piec'es provided with p loop-like extensio'nsfi to"which the head, stall strap Gis attached; acu'rb str'ap'E being also attached at, the 'same place. Down'wardlyfemtending arms 1 are formed on thecheek-pieces and these terminate in pivot "pins- 8 which extend 0 through'the outer ends of'the'hinge bariD. These pins form pivotal connections between the cheek pieces and the hinge bar and as the pins 8 align with the pins 5, as shown in Fig. 1, free pivotal movement of the cheek-pieces with relation to the bars B and D is permitted, and inasmuch as the pins 5 are off-set with relation to the inner faces of the cheek-pieces it is obvious that they will haveto be angularly disposed and so will the pins 8. It is due to this off-setting of the pins 5 that both sets of pins must be angularly dis-. posed withrelation to their respective cross bars and if free pivotal movement is to be permitted the pins 5 and 8 must align. Such alignment is indicated by the dotted lines 9-9. Thepins 8 terminate in head members It), and these serve two functions, first that of securing the hinge bar against endwise removal, and secondly that of forming pivotal supports for eye pins l I to which the, chains l2 are attached. These chains are be referred to as the lip hold-down chain as it prevents the horse from lipping the bit, and also prevents'the horse from throwing thebit over his nose, and it furthermore holds the bit'steady y when riding or driving. Each cheek-piece is also provided with a tie bar I! which serves two functions, first that of reinforcing and-strengthening 1 the downward extending side arms I of the cheekpieces,-and secondly that of acting as a brush guard, as it prevents brush and the like from getting into the recess indicated at I8.

The mouth-piece B may employ a wide cricket and a roller journaled' therein, as shown in Fig. 1, or a spoon type mouth-piece, or any other type may be employed; the main feature being that the pivotal connection between the'cheek pieces and the mouth-piece shall be off-set so that when the bit is in the horses mouth the pivotal connection does not come in contact with. the corners of the mouth. This distributes the known as the rein chains as the reins are at- 1 Pressure evenly and prevents cutting and pinch- It is fact that bits which pinch and cut the corners of the, mouth spoil horses by causing them to throw their heads, to fight the bits, and it causes them to become hard-mouthed or coldjawed. By eliminating the possibility or necessity of such cruel bitting, by the use of the bit here illustrated the horse is made tractable and easily reined, yet there is no weakness in the constructibn ofthe bit itself. The liold-dizmvn clip chain, indicated at [6,prevents the'bit from being thrownover the horses nose and also keeps pieces, J said cheek-pieces being ring-shaped at their upper ends, a pair of diametrically opposed the bit steady (prevents it from swinging back' and forth). .This is also important as it willpre: vent most horses from throwing their heads.

Besides the humane features'produced by this bit, it lends itself to artistic; and ornamental'de V} sign, and if desired, conchas plates such a s-indicated at 20, may be applied, and while thisand other'features havebeen more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted towithin thescope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may besuch asthe manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demands} ji,

Having thus described, rny j invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: 1.'-A bridle bit comprising a pair of.,cheek-. pieces, said cheek-pieces being ring-shaped at their upper ends, a pair of diametrically opposed bearing lugs in each ring, a mouth-piece, pins extending through the bearing lugs and the outer ends of the mouth-piece to form a pivotal connection between the cheek-piece and the mouthpiece, said bearing lugs being bent outwardly with relation to the inner faces of the cheek-pieces so as to bring the pivotal connections in a plane exterior to the said inner faces, a downwardly extending arm on each cheek piec e, a lower hinge bar, and a pivotal connectionbetweenthe lower end of each cheek-piece and the hinge bar.

2. A bridle bit comprising a pair of cheekbearing lugs in each ring, a mouth-piece, pins extending through the bearing lugs and the outer ends of the mouth-piece to form a pivotal connection between the cheek-piece and the mouthpiece, said bearing lugs being bent outwardly with relation to; the innerfaces. of the cheek-pieces soas to bring the pivotal connections in a. plane .exterior to the said innertfaces a downwardly extending armlon eachcheek-pie ce, a'lower hinge bar',a'pin extending through each .end of the hinge bar and secured to the lower ends of the arms, said pins aligning with the pins extending through the bearing lugs and both sets of pins being disposed on an angle withQrelation to the inner races of the cheek-pieces.

LELAND B, RGEN. 

